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Ontario’s Math Struggles Spark Provincial Review of Student Testing

Ontario’s latest standardized test results reveal that math achievement remains a serious concern across the province , with many students failing to meet expected benchmarks. The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released its 2024–2025 assessment data this week, showing that only 51% of Grade 6 students and 58% of Grade 9 students met the provincial math standard , while Grade 3 students fared slightly better at 64%. Despite modest improvements compared to previous years, the results underscore a persistent gap in student performance. Education Minister Paul Calandra acknowledged that progress has been too slow, announcing the creation of a two-member advisory body to review Ontario’s approach to standardized testing and curriculum delivery . The review will examine whether current teaching strategies, resources, and assessment methods are effectively supporting student learning. The EQAO results also highlighted disparities among student groups and school boards ,...

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CN Rail and CPKC Lock Out Workers Amid Labor Talks Deadlock

 


Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) have taken the drastic step of locking out workers, effectively shutting down Canada’s extensive freight rail network. The move comes after unsuccessful negotiations with the major labor union, Teamsters Canada. These negotiations have been ongoing since the expiration of contracts in December 2023.

The lockout has halted the movement of critical commodities such as grain, potash, and coal across the country. Here’s a timeline of the events leading up to this labor impasse:

  • December 31: Contracts covering locomotive engineers, conductors, and yard workers at CN and CPKC expire.
  • May 10: The Canadian government intervenes to delay a possible strike by railway workers.
  • May 23: Talks hit a deadlock, with predictions that a legal strike or lockout would not likely occur before mid-July.
  • August 22: CN and CPKC shut down their rail networks, affecting nearly 10,000 workers.

This unprecedented action underscores the severity of the labor dispute and its impact on Canada’s transportation infrastructure. As negotiations remain deadlocked, the ripple effects on the economy and supply chains are likely to be significant.

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